according to the curators at the waitangi treaty grounds, a small coastal town in the bay of islands known as russell, was back in the day known as "the hell hole of the pacific." it seems to have been a port town which many exploratory vessels came through before and then following the treaty of waitangi. i imagine it as a sort of deadwood of the pacific, lawless and rough, filled with shady characters fleeing dubious circumstances of the colonial empire.

nowadays however, it's quite a pleasant spot with small picturesque islands and mild weather. visiting it aboard the trusty r. tucker thompson captured the old timey feel of the locale. and as a side note- the cook on the tucker thompson serves the most delicious scones ever!